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Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Wuse Sanitization: Commuters Forced To Trek As Abuja Make Real Its Threat

The environs of Wuse market, Abuja largest market became a shadow of itself on Monday as the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, continued its enforcement of a no-trading and no-public vehicular movement around the market, especially along the road.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, to ensure strict compliance, had marched out dozens of officers from its enforcement squad and SURE-P personnel, who had taken positions at strategic places around the market and along the roads leading to Wuse market for the clean-up exercise.

In addition, security agencies including the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, with most brandishing assorted rifles were on ground to maintain law and order.

DailyPost gathered that the action began on Saturday as early as 4am. Several hawkers were reportedly arrested during the exercise, while their wares were confiscated.

Our correspondent who visited the area yesterday evening when most workers were returning home, observed that hundreds of stranded commuters were seen trekking, as the public vehicles that hitherto convey them were no longer available.

Commuters coming from the Berger roundabout to Wuse now stop at the Sky Memorial plaza opposite and then walk some 500 meters to the now prohibited bus park.

Also, those who ply the Area 1 to Wuse route now stop beside Febson Mall opposite First Bank before the Wuse Bridge.

The government clampdown on the area had affected the TOTAL service station along Herbert Macaulay Way, which was sealed off.

A statement by the Federal Capital Territory ministry over the weekend described it as a shelter for miscreants and a place that allows “unauthorised business activities within its premises such as production and sale of sachet water, hawking of used (tokunbo) motor tyres, battery charging, and others.”

It said “the AEPB team had to compel the station attendants to promptly clean up the place under its watch.”

AEPB Director, Isa Shuaibu, speaking with newsmen on the new order said the operation would be sustained and warned street traders, and other illegal operators to leave the market confines face arrest and prosecution.

He also warned banks in the area to maintain clean surroundings, adding that the sealing off of the oil station should serve as a deterrent to other big companies condoning the hawkers.